Abstract

As telescope apertures have grown and observatories followed George Hale's move to better sites, what will be the future of the small telescope back on the home campus? We explore how this role has developed at university telescopes, including at Appalachian State University's Dark Sky Observatory. We discover that we, too, are looking forward to exciting new projects at a different frontier than that pushed by big glass. Technological advances in detectors and instrument control have leveled the playing field between the "left and right" coasts of the US, and given us more opportunities for research, education and public outreach back home.